JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUSE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ FeLrnaiy 15, 1877. 



gave 64 per cent, as capable of germination. A grain of Maize 

 among the Wheat also germinated. 



BOYAL HORTICULTUBAL SOCIETY. 



FEBRrART 14th. 

 At the meeting held on Taesday the President of the Society 

 acknoirledged the aid of the principal uarBerymen in rendering 

 the meetings and shows attractive. The compUment had bseu 

 well merited, and liberal contributions of plants arranged in 

 the conservatory to-day constituted an extensive and beautiful 

 spring exhibition — a good augury that the year is not to be a 

 barren one, and that future gatherings will be worthy of exten- 

 sive patronage. The display was arranged on tables occupying 

 the entire length of the conservatory; and when we say that the 

 best examples from such sources a? those of Messrs. Veitch, 

 WJliams, Bull, Turner, Wills, and Osborn, besides those of 

 private growers, were forthcoming, including a large collection 

 of fruit from Leonardslee, the value and character of the show, 

 for show it was, will be understood. 



Fruit Committee. — Henry Webb, Esq., V.P., in the chair. 

 Mr. Joshua Atkins, gardener t:i Col. Lloyd Lindsay, sent three 

 very fine bunches of Black Alicante Grapes, which were awarded 

 a cultural commendation. Mr. Harrison Weir, of Weirleigh, 

 Kent, exhibited a dish of Mrs. Pinoe's Miiacat Grapes, which 

 were grown in a house without artificial heat. The flavour was 

 excellent, and the fruit was in fine condition. A cultural com- 

 mendation was awarded. Messrs. Veitch exhibited two seedling 

 Apples they received from Essex and Lancaster, but they were 

 not of superior quality. Messrs. Veitch also exhibited a large 

 seedling Pear from Acton, which was not considered of any 

 merit. Mr. Z. Stevem, ?,irdener to the Duke of Sutherland at 

 Trentham, sent a tree of CalviUe Blanche Apple in a pot laden 

 with fruit. These trees are used for table decoration at Trent- 

 ham. Tile fruit was very fine, and, though somewhat past its 

 best, was very good. A culturil commendation was awarded. 

 Messrs. Stuart & Mein of Kelso seat a punnet of the Lily-white 

 Seakale, which is of an uniform bright yellow colour, and not 

 tinged at the points with purple, as the ordinary variety is. It 

 was decided that before an opinion could be formed of its merits 

 it should be grown at Chiswick side by side with the old variety, 

 and when cooked submitted to the Committee. Mr. James 

 Batters, gardener to Mrs. Willis Fleming, Chilworth Manor, 

 Eomsey, sent a basket of Snowflake Potatoes grown in 7J--inch 

 pots. A cultural commendation was awarded. Mr. Batters also 

 exhibited a dish of Mushrooms. A couple of specimens of Limes 

 grown at Nettlecombe, Somerset, by Sir Walter Trevelyau, were 

 exhibited by Mr. David Wooster. A very fiue collection of 

 Apples and Pears was exhibited by Mr. Sidney Ford, gardener 

 to W. E. Hubbard, Esq., Leonardslee, Horsham, and the Com- 

 mittee recommended a Davis bronze medal. 



The Fruit Committee — haviog had under their consideration 

 the correspondence in reference to the Grape exhibited by Mr. 

 Bell of Clive House, Alnwick, before them on December 6th, 

 1876 — desire to place on record their regret that Mr. Bell should 

 have withheld ttie facts as to the origin of the Grape, and more 

 particularly draw attention that in his letter to the Committee 

 with the Grapes he stated the parentage was " a cross with 

 Black Morocco, and a seedling raised, I understand, at Wortley ; " 

 and in his letter of January 25th, 1877, in the Jojirnal of Horti- 

 culture, he affirmed " it is a foundline, the parentage and con- 

 nections of which none can vouch." Had the Committee known 

 at the time of making tUe award the real facts of the case they 

 would not have recognised the name of Clive House Seedling, 

 and which they now cancel. 



Florai, Committee, — Mr. B. S. Williams in the chair. 

 Messrs. Veitch exhibited a large group of plants, gorgeous by a 

 collection of nearly a hundred Amaryllises, in colours ranging 

 from rich crimson scarlet to creamy white, some of the petals 

 beiag tipped, others mottled, and nearly all of great substince 

 and superior merit. A first class certificate was awarded for 

 Princess of Teck, flame scarlet. The Orchids in this collection 

 included Lyoasta Skinnerii in several varieties, and L. oruenta, 

 highly perfumed; Lcslia tmlcherrimi albi, very beautiful 

 Angi-iEOum sesquipedale, with five flowers ; Phalteoopses , 

 Olontoglossums in several species and varieties ; tbe singular 

 Masdevallia Wallisii (chimeral, to which a first class certificate 

 was awarded. Chysis Chelsoni, a fine cross from C. l;rvis and 

 C. Limminghi ; Cypripediums, including C. Schlimmi album 

 and C. Haynaldianum; Dendrobinm Domini, and D. endocharis, 

 the latter being a distinct cross between D. japonioum and D. 

 heterocarpum, a fine plant of Dendrochilum glumaceum, &c. 

 In the centre of the group a striking liliaceous plant — Eurycles 

 auBtcalasicuB — commanded much attention. It somewhat re- 

 sembles an Eiicharis, but each flower spike, which is stout and 

 6 inches in height, is surmounted witti a dozen white flowers 

 with yellow st!imens. This will be invaluable as a decorative 

 plant, and is almost sure to find its way int 3 most conservatories. 

 The group was fringed with ;auperior Cyclamens and .Lilies, 



and contained densely bloomed examples of Rhododendron 

 Early Gem; also a fine form of Cydonia (Pyrus) japonica alba, 

 much superior both in the size of the flowers, purity of the 

 petals, and free flowering, to the old white. The new variety 

 was introduced by the late Mr. J. G. Veit -h, and must be pro- 

 nounced an acquisition; a first-class certificate was awarded. 

 Messrs. Veitch also exhibited flowering sprays of the new shrab 

 Azara microphylla; Cornns mas variegata, covered with small 

 orange-coloured flowers; and a collection of cut blooms of 

 Camellias. A silver-gilt medal was recommended for the col- 

 lection. 



Mr. Bull staged a very commanding group, every plant being 

 choice and in superior condition. The background was com- 

 posed of Cycads, Eocephalartes, Dracfcnas, Palms, Phormiums, 

 etc., at the front of which were Orchids and ornamental-foliaged 

 plants. Amongst the Orchids were Odontoglossum oirrhosum, 

 Lycaste Skinneri rubella, very rich ; Uropedium Lindeni, 

 Odontoglossum Roezlii, Dendrobium speciosum and Wardianum, 

 Cypripedium Harrisomanum,and a bright yellow Cypripedium, 

 resembling C. pubescens. To one fine plant in this group — 

 Cycas media latissima — a first-class certificate was awarded ; a 

 similar award also being given for Crotou Morti, a bold and 

 Btitely plant with well-coloured foliage ; and a silver medal was 

 recommended for the collection. 



Mr. Williams exhibited Orchids, including Dendrobiums nobile 

 and Wardianum, Lailia superbiens, Lycaste Skinneri, remarkably 

 well bloomed; Odontoglossum cordatum, Zygopetalum orinitum, 

 and Cypripediums Dayanum, insignis, and villosum ; also Palms, 

 Cyclamens, and plants of a splendid strain of Primula sinensis 

 fimbriata alba. A vote of thanks was awarded. 



Mr. Wills staged a large collection, arranged in a bold free 

 style, which is an agreeable relief to the orthodox formaUsm of 

 flat smooth groups. The large plants consisted principally of 

 Palms, the groundwork being composed of small flowering 

 plants and Adiantnms, with an irregular fringe of Ficus repena 

 and Isolepis gracilis. A vote of thanks was awarded. 



Messrs. Osijorn & Sons, Fulham, exhibited a small collection 

 of choice Palms and Aralias suitable for table decoration. The 

 plants were remarkably healthy and clean, and meriting and 

 receiving the thanks of the Committee. 



Mr. Turner, Slough, exhibited well-bloomed Camellias, the 

 old Donckelarii being conspicuous by its numerous and richly 

 marbled flowers. Fine standard and heavily berried Aucubas, 

 a standard umbrella-like plant of Enonymus latifolius varie- 

 gatus, and ornamental pyramid Ivies. A distinct and excellent 

 group for which a vote of thanks was given. 



Mr. R. Dean, Baling, exhibited a collection of Primroses 

 (some of them Polyanthuses), inpot?. A new white, Virginiana, 

 P. altaioa. Rosy Mora, Brilliant, and others were very effective. 

 Mr. Dean also exhibited Victoria Eegina Violet in good condition. 

 Mr. Aldous also staged a compact collection of flowering plants, 

 and both exhibitors received the thanks of the Committee. 



Mr. F. Newman, gardener to W. H. MichoU, Esq., Highgate, 

 exhibited a very fine croup of Orchids, including upwards of a 

 dozen Phalajaopses; Colax j'lcosns, distinct from the purity of 

 its sepals and its heavily blotched petals; Vanda Cathcarti, Mil- 

 tonia Warscewiezii, Odontoglossum triumphans, and superior 

 Dendrobiums, Wardianum, crassinode, and litniflorum^an ex- 

 tremely fresh and bright collection, for which a silver medal 

 was recommended. 



Mr. James, gardener to W. P. Watson, Esq., Eedlees, staged 

 nearly a hundred Cyclamens, excellently grown and in superior 

 varieties ; also a dozen seedling Cinerarias, remarkable alike for 

 the vigour of the plants and the high quality of the varieties. A 

 silver medal was worthily recommended for this excellent col- 

 lection. Messrs. F. & A. Smith, Dulwich, also staged good 

 Cinerarias. 



Mr. Ollerhead, gardener to Sir Henry Peek, Bart., Wimbledon 

 House, staged a small but very good group of Orchids, Vandas 

 sua vis and tricolor, Dendrobium Boxalli with fifty-three flowerB, 

 D. crassinode, Phalienopses, etc., and received the thanks of the 

 Committee. A similar murk of acknowledgment was made to 

 Mr. Roberta, gardener to W. Terry, Esq , Peterborough House, 

 Fulham, who staged a small collection of Orchids, Ccelogyne 

 criststa and Goodyera discolor being in very good condition. 



Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Burford Lodge, Dorking, ex- 

 hibited some choice Orchids, botanical commendations being 

 awarded ti Cutasetnm sourra, distinct and powerfully per- 

 fumed; and Spathaglottis Libbii, pale yellow ; and a first-class 

 certificate to Odontoglossum Cervantesii var. decorum, a great 

 improvement on the epacies. Miltonia Warscewiczii pallida in 

 this choice group wa^t very beautiful. A first-class certifioate 

 was also awarded for Calanthe vestita rubra oculata, very 

 vigorous and fiue. 



A cultural commendation was awarded to Mr. Denning, gar- 

 dener to Lord Londesborough, for a densely flowered plant of 

 the Cobweb Dendrobe, Dendrobium teretifolium ; and a botani- 

 cal certificate for Masdevallia macrura, a robust and remarkable 

 species from the State of Columbia. Mr. Laing, Forest Hill 

 Nurseries, exhibited forced Lilacs; and Mr. Clarke, Twicken- 



